David Nugent

His role culminated in coming on for John Utaka in the 69th minute of the final against Cardiff City, eventually winning the trophy.

David James Nugent (born 2 May 1985) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.

He started his career in 2002 when he signed his first professional contract with Bury.

After making his debut as a substitute against Port Vale in March 2002 at the age of just 16, Nugent initially struggled to live up to his early potential, but an explosive start to the 2004–05 League Two season saw several larger clubs take an interest.

He left the club in 2005, when he joined Preston North End for two seasons.

Although a target for rivals Burnley, Nugent opted to join Preston North End rather than Northampton Town from Bury in January 2005 for a fee of £100,000.

He scored 10 league goals in 32 Championship appearances in 2005–06, as Preston finished fourth, losing to Leeds United in the playoff semi-final, thus failing to gain promotion.

Despite transfer speculation, Nugent spent the following season at Preston, scoring 15 goals in 43 appearances, and winning England recognition.

Preston finished seventh in 2006–07.

Nugent joined Portsmouth in 2007, and later joined Burnley for the 2009–10 season, before returning to Portsmouth for one final season in 2010.

After both Sunderland and Portsmouth had bids in the region of £6 million accepted for the player, Nugent was eventually unveiled as a Pompey player at a press conference alongside John Utaka on 11 July 2007.

However, rumours followed just weeks later that Derby County were considering a bid for Nugent and that he would be leaving Portsmouth in the same transfer window he arrived in.

In a post-match press conference following a League Cup match early on in Nugent's Pompey career, in which he scored his first goal for the club, Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp publicly stated Nugent would be free to leave the club if the right offer came in to help fund a move for more players.

However, Nugent stated he wanted to stay at Portsmouth.

A possible loan deal to Ipswich Town fell through in early March 2008 with Jim Magilton, the Ipswich manager, left questioning Nugent's fitness.

Nugent appeared frequently for Portsmouth in the FA Cup, scoring a goal in their third-round tie against Ipswich Town.

The next season and after 18 months at the club, Nugent scored his first Premier League goal – against former manager Harry Redknapp at Tottenham Hotspur in a 1–1 draw on 18 January 2009.

Two matches later he scored his second goal at Fulham and followed this up with his first league goal at Fratton Park, scoring against Liverpool on 7 February 2009.

However, these were to be Nugent's only top flight goals for Pompey.

On 5 August 2009, it was reported that Nugent had been involved in an alleged bust-up with teammate Marc Wilson during Portsmouth's pre-season trip to Portugal.

Both players were sent home and subsequently fined two weeks' wages by the club.

On 1 September 2009, it was reported that Nugent was in talks with Burnley about a loan move.

Thirty minutes after the transfer window closed it was reported that Burnley had signed Nugent on a six-month-long loan deal with a view to a permanent move, subject to Premier League clearance.

On 12 September, he made his debut for the Clarets when he replaced Martin Paterson 70 minutes into the match against Liverpool at Anfield.

After coming on as a second-half substitute for the Clarets on his home debut against Sunderland, Nugent scored two goals, helping Burnley to a 3–1 win.

Nugent signed another loan agreement with Burnley on 1 February which would keep him at the club on loan until June.

After failing to renegotiate a permanent deal with Burnley or attract an alternative Premier League club, Nugent returned to newly relegated Portsmouth in the 2010–11 pre-season.

He was a regular starter as a left sided forward.

After an initial goal drought that saw him fail to hit the net until his goal in a 6–1 defeat of Leicester City on 24 September 2010 (his first for Pompey since February 2009), Nugent finished the season as Portsmouth's top goalscorer, scoring 14 goals in all competitions.

He signed for Leicester City in 2011, where he played for the club for four seasons, before joining Middlesbrough in 2015.

After helping Middlesbrough secure promotion to the Premier League, Nugent joined Derby County after his starting position at Middlesbrough was put in jeopardy.

On 5 July 2011, Nugent signed for Leicester City on a three-year deal after his contract with Portsmouth expired.

He made his competitive debut in a 1–0 win over Coventry City on 6 August 2011, scoring his first goal for the club in a 2–1 defeat to Bristol City on 17 August.

Nugent finished the 2011–12 season as the club's top goalscorer with 16 goals in all competitions.

On 18 February 2012, Nugent scored the winning goal to knock Premier League team Norwich City out of the FA Cup at Carrow Road and put Leicester through to the quarter-finals.

Nugent signed for Tranmere Rovers on loan from Preston North End for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.

Nugent played for England at under-21 level, before playing one match and scoring for the senior team.

He failed to remain in the England senior squad, and made no further appearances for his country.

Born in Huyton, Merseyside, Nugent was a member of the Liverpool youth academy but left aged 15.

It was only once he changed his position that he then became a professional with Bury, joining the club's successful Youth and Centre of Excellence department.